David Hockney (b.1937)

Made in April (M.C.A. Tokyo 188)

Etching with aquatint printed in colours, 1976-77, signed and numbered from the edition of 200 in pencil, on wove paper, as included in the portfolio The Blue Guitar, published by Petersburg Press, London and New York, with full margins, 525 x 456mm (20 5/8 x 18in) (unframed)

In 1976, Hockney spent the summer in New York where he discovered a collection of poems by Wallace Stevens. He found the poem 'The Man with the Blue Guitar' particularly captivating. This poem was in fact inspired by Steven's encounter with Pablo Picasso's famous The Old Guitarist in 1936. For the poet, the blue guitar and its music become symbols for artistic creativity. It is of little surprise then, that the young Hockney drew rich inspiration from both iconic works. Shortly thereafter he produced ten drawings that interpreted both the poem and Picasso's style in his own way. The present portfolio is the result, which bears the fitting title: ?The Blue Guitar, etchings by David Hockney, who was inspired by Wallace Stevens, who was inspired by Pablo Picasso?.